Nasal filter

ABSTRACT

A self-contained nasal filtering accessory or device which lends itself to feasible use in a manner capable of efficaciously intercepting and arresting and otherwise coping with environmental dust, pollutants, contagious contaminants and disease laden air. The inventive concept, broadly construed, pertains to a three-part but self-contained innovation characterized by a bendably resilient comfort promoting plastic or resilient clip whose bight portion is bridled over the nasal septum and whose legs yieldingly embrace enclosed clampable surfaces of the nasal septum. Specially constructed free end portions of the legs are detachably, adjustably and safely united with keeper means provided therefor on the properly paired tufttype filters in a manner to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

United States Patent 1 Sakamoto [451 Apr. 9, 1974 41 NASAL FILTER [76] Inventor: Minoru Sakamoto, 3911 Nioi PL,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 [22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 287,259

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Henry J. Recla Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jackson [57] ABSTRACT A self-contained nasal filtering accessory or device which lends itself to feasible use in a manner capable of efficaciously intercepting and arresting and otherwise coping with environmental dust, pollutants, contagious contaminants and disease laden air. The inventive concept, broadly construed, pertains to a threepart but self-contained innovation characterized by a bendably resilient comfort promoting plastic or resilient clip whose bight portion is bridled over the nasal septum and whose legs yieldingly embrace enclosed clampable surfaces of the nasal septum. Specially constructed free end portions of the legs are detachably, adjustably and safely united with keeper means provided therefor on the properly paired tuft-type filters in a manner to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures NASAL FILTER The present invention relates to health protecting and life preserving nose attachments which have been, and still are, categorized as nasal filters and has to do, more particularly, with a type of filtering device which, broadly stated, employs filters of one type or another which are poised for use in the nasal passages and are applied and retentively held in a given position by a filter positioning and retaining clip.

Ecologists and other knowledgeable and concerned individuals conversant with the endangering difficulties which are linked with the overall pollution problem have and will continue to stress the need for safety contrivances, other than face masks. Although others have devised and offered for use many and varied forms of nasal filters the fact remains, or so it seems, that such prior art adaptations have not, for one reason or another, met with widespread adoption and approved use. It follows that it is an object of the herein revealed concept to advance the art and to offer for use an improved self-contained nasal filtering accessory or device, that is, a device for use in a manner capable of efficaciously intercepting and arresting inhalation of environmental dust, pollutants, contagious contaminants and diseaseladen air. 7

For background purposes the reader may well take under advisement the nasal shield convered in US. Pat. No. 810,617 granted to Thomas Carence and which as pointed out by the patentee was devised to protect the lining membrane of the nostrils from dust utilizing gauze diaphragms and employing a suitable clasp for retcntively but removably installing the filtering shields. Another nasal device worthy of evaluation is comprehended in US. Pat. No. 2,426,]61 granted to Joseph B. Biederman, the subject matter of the invention there having to do with filtering out pollens and other particles in the air and also for delivering medicated vapors to the wearer by way of his nostrils. Then, too, and because it shows resilient U-shaped clip means carrying truncated filters which are detachably bridled in place on the clip attention may be directed to U.S. Pat. No. 921,034 granted to Hamilton Weir.

Briefly the concept herein set forth pertains to a selfcontained nasal filtering device or accessory which, as suggested, has to do with a satisfactory serviceable structure which, quite broadly stated, is characterized by a readily applicable and removable plastic or equivalent clip which is designed and adapted to be comfortably but retentively bridled in position on the nasal septum of the wearer. The clip is preferably U-shaped for ready adaptability and functions with requisite nicety to position and retain the properly paired filters, one filter 'for insertion and intercepting retention in each nasal passage. The clip has legs projecting into the respectively oriented nasal passages and means is carried by coacting portions of the respective legsand respective filters for safely, adjustably and detachably mounting the filters in readiness for efficacious and safeguarding use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a fragmentary portion of the wearer of the filter and illustrating with understandable clarity how the herein disclosed filter is applied for protective use.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation on a suitably enlarged scale showing one filter and one leg of the aforementioned clip.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the plane of the vertical section line 33 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

' FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the clip with particularity and one of the filters detached therefrom.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how the device may be stored and protectively carried in a sectional box or case.

By way of introduction to the description of the details it may well be pointed out that .the attaching, positioning and retaining clip can, if desired, be made of an appropriate grade of hard rubber or equivalent plastic material, the strap thereof being flesh colored so as to be as inconspicuous as feasibly desirable. The duplicate interchangeable and reversible filters are to be made of any suitable material called for by the manufacturer taking into consideration manufacturing requirements and economies and requirements of prospective users. The filters will be aptly washable as well as removable and replaceable. The U-shaped adapter clip, more likely than not, will have to be fitted for each user and may require the trained and skilled services of a technician to accomplish this end. As briefly stated the breathing filter functions to protect the-health of the wearer by properly coping with pollution, dust and other difficulties involved in inhaling. Because of the construction of the component parts adapted for use the self-contained device disclosed will be found to be acceptably desirable for use by women for aesthetic reasons and, in addition, the filters can be appropriately utilized as medication applicators.

Further and for similar reasons and because the device will enable the wearer to cope with environmental and anti-pollution difficulties it will be evident that the device is not only susceptible of being readily cleansed and conditioned for repeated use but is susceptible of being manufactured and turned out in different sizes and well serves intended purposes in that the tuft of hairs which go to make up the principal part of each filter can be trimmed to meet the requirements of the problem at hand.

Each filter as depicted with particularity in FIG. 4 is denoted by the numeral 8. Both filters are made up of pliant washable hairs, are alike in construction, and are reversible and interchangeable. Each filter is characterized by a backing member which functions as a base and is denoted at 10. This base, made of suitable noncorrodible but sturdy material can be generally ovate in outline and is preferably hollow in construction and embodies an outward or outer flat face 12 and an inward correspondingly flat face 14. As shown in FIG. 3 each backing member is of hollow construction. The central portion of the wall or surface 14 is provided with upper and lower spaced parallel keeper slots 16 which cooperate in defining an in-between offset band 18. The band and slots conjointly define keeper means for the associated leg of the novel clip. The clip is substantially U-shaped as shown at 20 and is made of an appropriate grade of colorful commercial plastics. The

curvate or arcuate bight portion is denoted at 22 and joins the lower end portions 24 of the opposed legs or limbs 26. The free inward or upper end portions of these legs are denoted at 28. These end portions are piloted through the slots 16 in a manner that they are then encompassed at least in part as brought out in FIG. 3. It is desirable to provide not only a readily attachable and detachable result but to promote security and safety of retention and for this reason the upper end portion of each leg has a tongue 30 struck-out therefrom. The hinged or attached end of the tongue is shown at 32. The inherent tension of each tongue serves to angle the tongue outwardly, as at 35, so that after the tongue-equipped end portions are passed through the keeper slots 16 and associated with the embracing keeper bands 18 a satisfactory connection for and mounting of the filters 8 is achieved.

The clip means lends itself to comfortable and reliable use as illustrated for example in FIG. 1. The bight portion is bridled across the nasal septum A of the wearers nose B. The tongue-equipped legs with the pliant hair filters attached thereto straddle the nasal septum and locate the filters in their intended blocking and filtering position in a seemingly self-evident manner.

It is within the purview of the invention to provide a convenient packaging and protecting holder for the ready-to-use device. A satisfactory adaptation may be that shown in FIG. which is thought of as a protective box and which comprises a rectangular body or receptacle portion 34 having a reduced upper flanged end 36 to accommodate the attachable and detachable cover 38. There will be times when the owner has no need for using the device under which circumstances it can be stored away with the aid or use of the protective box.

It is submitted that the views of the drawing serve, singly and conjointly, to show the several component parts and the manner in which they are individually constructed and, what is more significant, how they are put together, used and stored. The fact that the invention is simply and satisfactorily constructed justifies the assumption that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the invention has been fully and understandably presented. Accordingly a more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A self-contained nasal filtering device comprising a pair of filters, each comprising a backing member providing a base having flat inner and outer faces, said outer face provided with a tuft of outstanding flexible and resilient hairs similar in properties and function to the nasal passage lining and filtering hairs in ones nose, said hairs being bunched and distributively anchored on said outer face, said inner face having spaced parallel slots defining an intervening band and which, in turn, constitutes a keeper, and a readily attachable and detachable U-shaped clip having spaced legs joined at like ends by a curvate bight portion capable of being bridled on a bottom of the nasal septum of the wears nose and said legs adapted to project into the respectively oriented nasal passages and also adapted to straddle and yieldingly clasp opposite surfaces of said nasal septum, the upper ends of said legs being free and passing through cooperating slots and being retentively encompassed and detachably held by said keeper band, whereby to separably but operatively mount said filter on said legs.

2. The nasal filtering device defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein each free end of each leg is provided with a struck out tang which is in a locale and is tensioned and sprung out in a manner to provide and detent, said detent being associatively coordinated with the companion keeper band in a manner to detachably and adjustably mount the overall filter in a given operating position.

3. The self-contained nasal filtering device defined in and according to claim 2 and wherein said clip is made of inconspicuous flesh-colored moldable plastic material possessed of self-retaining properties and which can be reliably cleansed and sterilized for repeated usefulness.

4. The self-contained nasal filtering device defined in and according to claim 2 and wherein said clip is made of inconspicuous flesh-colored moldable plastic material possessed of self-retaining properties and which can be reliably cleansed and sterilized for repeated usefulness, said filters being replaceable and also made of washable and cleanable material in a manner to assure required health promoting cleanliness and adaptability in that the hairs are made sufficiently long at the time of manufacture to permit the same to be singly and collectively trimmed to successfully cope with the fitting requirements at hand.

5. A three-part self-contained nasal filtering accessory capable of effectually intercepting, arresting and otherwise coping with prevailing environmental dust, pollutants, contagious contaminants and disease laden air comprising: a readily attachable and detachable mounting and retaining clip, said clip being U-shaped and having a curvate bight portion adapted to be bridled in a clippable position across the bottom of the nasal septum of the wearers nose and interconnecting a pair of yieldable complemental legs of a length and size adapted to project into the respectively oriented nasal passages and also adapted to straddle and yieldingly clasp opposite vertical surfaces of said nasal septum, and a pair of like interchangeable filtering units, each unit comprising a hollow backing member of a size and shape to assume a functioning position in the selected nasal passage, said backing member providing a base and embodying inner and outer spaced parallel faces, each outer face being provided with a supportively attached tuft embodying a multiplicity of outstanding flexible and resilient hairs similar in properties and functioning of the usual nasal passage lining and filtering hairs existing in ones nose, said inner face having a keeper band, the upper ends of said legs being free and being retentively encompassed and detachably held in given operating positions by the respectively cooperable keeper bands.

6. The nasal filtering device defined in claim 5 and wherein each free end of each leg has a struck-out tang which is situated in a predetermined locale, is obliqueangled and is tensioned and sprung out in a manner to provide a detent, said detent being associatively coordinated with the companion keeper band in a manner to material in a manner to assure required health promoting cleanliness and adaptability in that the hairs are made sufficiently long at the time of manufacture to permit the same to be singly and collectively trimmed to successfully cope with the fitting requirements at hand. 

1. A self-contained nasal filtering device comprising a pair of filters, each comprising a backing member providing a base having flat inner and outer faces, said outer face provided with a tuft of outstanding flexible and resilient hairs similar in properties and function to the nasal passage lining and filtering hairs in one''s nose, said hairs being bunched and distributively anchored on said outer face, said inner face having spaced parallel slots defining an intervening band and which, in turn, constitutes a keeper, and a readily attachable and detachable U-shaped clip having spaced legs joined at like ends by a curvate bight portion capable of being bridled on a bottom of the nasal septum of the wearer''s nose and said legs adapted to project into the respectively oriented nasal passages and also adapted to straddle and yieldingly clasp opposite surfaces of said nasal septum, the upper ends of said legs being free and passing through cooperating slots and being retentively encompassed and detachably held by said keeper band, whereby to separably but operatively mount said filtEr on said legs.
 2. The nasal filtering device defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein each free end of each leg is provided with a struck out tang which is in a locale and is tensioned and sprung out in a manner to provide and detent, said detent being associatively coordinated with the companion keeper band in a manner to detachably and adjustably mount the overall filter in a given operating position.
 3. The self-contained nasal filtering device defined in and according to claim 2 and wherein said clip is made of inconspicuous flesh-colored moldable plastic material possessed of self-retaining properties and which can be reliably cleansed and sterilized for repeated usefulness.
 4. The self-contained nasal filtering device defined in and according to claim 2 and wherein said clip is made of inconspicuous flesh-colored moldable plastic material possessed of self-retaining properties and which can be reliably cleansed and sterilized for repeated usefulness, said filters being replaceable and also made of washable and cleanable material in a manner to assure required health promoting cleanliness and adaptability in that the hairs are made sufficiently long at the time of manufacture to permit the same to be singly and collectively trimmed to successfully cope with the fitting requirements at hand.
 5. A three-part self-contained nasal filtering accessory capable of effectually intercepting, arresting and otherwise coping with prevailing environmental dust, pollutants, contagious contaminants and disease laden air comprising: a readily attachable and detachable mounting and retaining clip, said clip being U-shaped and having a curvate bight portion adapted to be bridled in a clippable position across the bottom of the nasal septum of the wearer''s nose and interconnecting a pair of yieldable complemental legs of a length and size adapted to project into the respectively oriented nasal passages and also adapted to straddle and yieldingly clasp opposite vertical surfaces of said nasal septum, and a pair of like interchangeable filtering units, each unit comprising a hollow backing member of a size and shape to assume a functioning position in the selected nasal passage, said backing member providing a base and embodying inner and outer spaced parallel faces, each outer face being provided with a supportively attached tuft embodying a multiplicity of outstanding flexible and resilient hairs similar in properties and functioning of the usual nasal passage lining and filtering hairs existing in one''s nose, said inner face having a keeper band, the upper ends of said legs being free and being retentively encompassed and detachably held in given operating positions by the respectively cooperable keeper bands.
 6. The nasal filtering device defined in claim 5 and wherein each free end of each leg has a struck-out tang which is situated in a predetermined locale, is oblique-angled and is tensioned and sprung out in a manner to provide a detent, said detent being associatively coordinated with the companion keeper band in a manner to detachably mount the overall filter unit in a predetermined operating position.
 7. The nasal filtering device defined in claim 6 and wherein said clip is made of inconspicuous flesh-colored moldable plastic material possessed of self-retaining properties and which can be reliably cleansed and sterilized for repeated usefulness, said filters being replaceable and also made of washable and cleanable material in a manner to assure required health promoting cleanliness and adaptability in that the hairs are made sufficiently long at the time of manufacture to permit the same to be singly and collectively trimmed to successfully cope with the fitting requirements at hand. 